Stove and adjustable plates for the oven thereof



G. M. BIRKIC Dec. 25', 1951 STOVE AND ADJUSTABLE PLATES FOR THE OVENS THEREOF Filed Nov. 22, 1947 //vv/v TOR. GEORGE M. 51/7/00 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOVE AND ADJUSTABLE PLATES FOR THE OVEN THEREOF George M. Birkic, Cleveland, Ohio Application November 22, 1947, Serial No. 787,551

14 Claims. (Cl. 126-437) My invention relates to stoves and more par-- ticularly to ovens provided with adjustable plates having ribs for supporting slidable racks or trays.

It is now well known that the floors in many buildings, such as in homes or apartments are not level which is generally due to the uneven settling of the building after it is erected. When stoves are installed in the kitchens of such buildings, it is therefore apparent that unless some provision is made to level the stoves, they will assume the same inclination as the floor upon which they rest and consequently the ovens of such stoves will also be inclined.

In constructing stoves at the present time, it is the practice to provide a side plate on each interior side of the oven, each of which is provided with inwardly extending supports or ribs upon which the opposite edges of trays or racks slide. Stove manufacturers arrange the supports or ribs on one plate so that each support will be in horizontal alignment with a support onthe opposite plate. When the stove is installed upon a floor that is inclined in a direction between the opposite ends of the stove, however, the supportson one side of the oven will be above the correspondingsupports on the opposite side and racks or trays having their opposite edges supported by the ribs will be inclined. It will also be apparent that if the floor on which the stove is placed is inclined from the front to the rear of the stove, the racks or trays supported by the ribs will also be inclined in a like direction. I

The inclination of the racks or trays in an oven, however, causes much annoyance to the house wife in baking pies, cakes, or even bread, because the filling or batter for such goods, is generally in the form of a more or less viscous liquidv which seeks its own level and because of the incllna tion of the racks or trays, the upper portion of goods being baked assumes an inclined position with respect to the bottom portion which is annoying to fastidious housekeepers. In goods,.such as custard pies, which are baked in shallow pans and in which the filling flows freely, the inclination of the racks or trays is particularly annoying because the filling may overflow the walls of the pans and fall into contact with the hot walls of the oven where it readily carbonizes and is difficult to remove.

To maintain the stove in a level position, attempts have been made to raise a portion of the stove and insert a support below the raised portion. Such practice, however, is unsanitary 'because dirt or other extraneous material collects below the raised portion of the stove and is difiicultt-oremove.

It is an object of the present invention to provide side plates in an oven which plates are ad justable vertically and angularly so that ribs or supports for the slidable trays or racks may be maintained in a level position from the front to the rear of the oven and so that racks or trays supported on oppositely disposed ribs may be maintained leveL'irrespective of the inclination of the floor between the opposite ends of the stove;

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means for adjusting each of the side plates of the oven of a stove, independently of the other side plate so that the ribs or supports on which the oven racks or trays slide may -be maintained in the same horizontal'plane.

A further object of my invention'i's to provide improved means whereby one or both side plates of an oven may be adjusted relative to the side wall 'oi the oven on which it issupported and means whereby such -side plates may be maintained in their adjusted positions;

My invention will be'better understood by ref erence to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a stove;

Fig." 2 is an end elevational view'o'f the stove shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross'sectional view on a plane passing through the line 33- of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a crosssecticnal view on a plane passing through the'line 44 of Fig. 2, looking" in'the direction'of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view one plane passing through the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, as viewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the eccentric'shown in Fig. 5; and 1 Fig. "l is across sectional view on the plane of line 'I-l of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. I

While the improvements provided by my in: vention may be incorporated in the ovens of stoves of any desired typegas illustrated in the drawings, a stove I' is shown containing the usual oven 2 which is provided with oppositely disposed side walls 3 and 4 and which are insulated from the outer stove wall by suitable insulation 5, and ar ranged adjacent the opposite side walls of the oven, are side plates 6 and 1. The side plates may be of any desirable form and I do not desire to be limited in this respect. As illustrated, each of the side plates is formed of a sheet of metal, having a. plurality of inwardly bent portions forming supports or ribs 8 and.9, respectively,

site to one of the supports 9.

In accordance with my invention, means are provided to secure each side plate to the wall of the oven so that it may be adjusted upwardly or is permitted to descend under its own weight and to secure and hold the plate in its adjusted position. Any suitable means for securing the plate to the adjacent side wall of the oven may be utilized. Preferably, -however, means are 'provideld for securing each side plate to one of the oven walls that will guide the movement of the side plate secured thereto. Each of the plates may for instance, be adjustabl'y supported and secured to one of the side walls of the *oven at-its'bottom portion and guided at its opposite edges in suitable guides or slideways formed on;the oven-=-wall. As illustrated in the drawings, each of the side plates is provided with a pair of spacedslots I0 and the plate is adjustably held in engagement with side wall 3 or 4 of the oven by means of bolts 4- I ,having shanks spaced from .the opposite side walls of the respective slot through which each :extends as shown i more particularly ,-in Fig.

'7 :and ends fwhichmay be threaded .directlyinto .threadedaperturesin the oven wall 3 0r,int0 an interiorly threaded nut 12 welded or otherwise secured to the oven wall.

Theulowerportionof each plate-is resiliently secured-toiits-adjacent-oven wallby .any suitable-means. As illustrated in the "drawings, a pair of spaced washers 13 are provided, each having an angularly-shaped opening and inter- ;posed between each washer and the inner oven iwalleiswaneccentric l 4 also provided-with a similar angularly-shaped-opening. .Each washer l3 and eccentric l4' arelsecured to the oven wall by means .of :a belt -.I Shaving ahead provided with means; to receivesa suitable tool or-, rotating the bolt, 7 such as slot .16, and an .angularlyeshape'd portion 16a r arranged adjacent its head to .extend through the washer l3:and:eccentric [4. As illustrated, the :shank of -:bolt .15 --,extends through-:anaperture in the ,ovenwall-B and-is provided with ia'tlneaded :end to receive anut H. Arranged beneath each nut Hisa washer It and interposed between the oven wal-l 3-and each washer l8 isra spring id-which l-yieldingly maintains eccentric M in 'engagement ewith the oven wall and washer l3 in-,engagement with :the .lower edge. of platc .6.

. W-hen1bolts [hare threaded :into engagement with nuts l2, it is apparent ,that platesg-fiz-and l will be maintained:intheirsetmosition. When it is desired to adjust plate-,fiior I, boltslil' are threaded outwardly from the .oven walland the The opposite plate I is secured to the oven wall 4 and is adjustable in the same manner as plate 6 and in this connection it may be stated that if supports 8 and 9 are out of horizontal alignment because wall 4 is higher than wall 3, they may be brought to such position that racks or trays 20 may be maintained level, either by raiszing platefi or'permitting plate 'Lto descend. To xmaintailrthe'racks or "trays 20 in the proper position, alignment is preferably secured by raisiing one of the side plates approximately half .thedistancenecessary to properly align the racks and :by lowering the other side plate a like amount. Plate 1 may also be adjusted angularly :infthe same manner as plate 6 so that ribs or supports 9 may be maintained level irrespcctivc of "'the'inclination of stove from its front to its reargportion.

The insulating material 5 arranged between theovenwalls and .the outer wall of .thestove so-that plates.6:and I may be easily adjusted by women or unskilled workmen.

What Iclaim is:

,l. A stove provided with an oven having interior oppositely disposed sidewalls, a first plate arranged adjacent one of said side walls and having a slot extending substantiallyvertically therein, a second plate arranged adjacent the other side wall of said oven, each of said plates being provided with *one or more rack supports, means for maintaining each of said plates in such .positionrelative to its adjacent wall that each rack support on one plate is inhorizontal alignplates may be adjusted bye-hand or any :con- .35}

venient means. As illustrated eccentrics 1453126 provided which may be rotated .to raise torperkmitrthe respective plates to descend. The-eccentrics beneath each plate are each rotated in such direction that-supports '8' .on plate: 6 and'supports. 9.0n;plate;-1 may bev maintained level. Be

cause the shanks ofbolts H are spaced from the opposite-sides \of-slotslll, it will also be apparent that one .of :the eccentrics below each ,plate may heirotated to a greater extent than the other eccentric under the -same plate to maintain the 'frontiand rear portions .of supports B and 9 level. When this position is attained, bolts II are ..threaded inwardly to maintain .the platesv in their adjustedposition. Additional adjustments mayof course be madelfrom time .to time ifthe floornpon which'thestove rests-should assume a different inclination orif the. stovev i installed in "the J kitchen of .-:a rdiiferentlbuil'ding or apartmerit.

ment witha rack :suppcrt on the opposite plate .toimaintain arack having its opposite edges resting upon oppositely disposed rack supports on Vsaid; plates in va'level position when saidstove rests-upon a level-surface, and the means for :rests :on an inclined surface.

;2..A:stove provided with an oven having in- .teriorly oppositely disposed side walls, a plate arranged adjacent each side wall, each of said 7 plates being provided with one or more rack supgin of its respective plate, and means for maintaining said eccentric below its respective plate and said washer in engagement with its respective plate which means is accessible from inside the oven for rotating each eccentric to gradually adjust and maintain each plate in a position in which the rack supports on one plate are in horizontal alignment with the corresponding rack supports on the opposite plate when said stove rests on an inclined surface.

3. In an oven having inwardly arranged oppositely disposed side walls, a first plate arranged adjacent one of the side walls of said oven and being provided with a pair of spaced elongated slots and a second plate arranged adjacent the opposite side wall of said oven and being provided with a pair of spaced elongated slots, each of said plates being provided with rack supports with each of the rack supports on the first plate cooperating with a rack support on the second plate to form a support for the opposite edges of a rack or tray, means for securing each of said plates to the oven wall adjacent thereto including two bolts connected to each adjacent oven wall, one of said bolts extending loosely through one of said slots and the other bolt extending loosely through the other slot of each plate, means for angularly adjusting each of said plates including a pair of spaced eccentrics arranged below each plate, means associated with said eccentrics for preventing outward movement of the lower edge of each plate from its adjacent side wall, each of the eccentrics associated with each plate being adjustable from inside of said oven independently of the other eccentric to adjust said plates angularly and to adjust one of said plates vertically relative to the other plate, and each of said bolts being adjustable inwardly from its respective side wall to serve as a guide during the adjustment of said plates.

4. In. an oven having interior oppositely disposed side walls, a plate arranged adjacent each side wall, each of said plates being provided with one or more rack supports, means for maintaining each of said plates in such position relative to its adjacent wall that each rack support on one plate is in horizontal alignment with a rack support on the opposite plate to maintain a rack having its opposite edges resting upon corresponding rack supports in a level position when said stove rests on a level surface, said maintaining means for at least one of said plates being movable to a second position and at least one of said plates, together with its rack supports, being gradually adjustable relative to its adjacent side wall when said movable maintaining means is in its second position to position its rack supports horizontally opposite to the corresponding rack supports on the opposite plate when said stove rests on an inclined surface, and the maintaining means for the adjustable plate being effective when again moved to its first position to maintain the adjustable plate in its adjusted position.

5. In a stove provided with an oven having interior oppositely disposed side walls, a plate arranged adjacent each side wall, each of said plates being provided with one or more rack supports, means for maintaining each of said plates in such position relative to its adjacent wall that each rack support on one plate is in horizontal alignment with a corresponding rack support on the oppositely disposed plate to maintain a rackhaving its opposite edges resting upon corresponding rack supports in a level position when said stove rests upon a level surface, and means for gradually adjusting one of said plates, together with its rack supports, relative to its adjacent side wall to position its rack supports in horizontal alignment with corresponding rack supports on the opposite plate to maintain said rack in a level position when said stove rests on an inclined surface and said adjusting means being effective in maintaining the adjustable plate in its adjusted position.

6. In a stove provided with an oven having interior oppositely disposed side walls, a plate arranged adjacent each side wall, each of said plates being provided with one or more rack supports, means for maintaining each of said plates in such position relative to its adjacent wall that each rack support is in a level position and is in horizontal alignment with a corresponding rack support on the oppositely disposed plate to maintain a rack having its opposite edges resting upon corresponding oppositely disposed rack supports in a level position when said stove rests upon a level surface, said maintaining means for each of said plates being movable to a second position, and each of said plates, together with its racks, being angularly adjustable When said maintaining means is in its second position so that racks resting upon oppositely disposed corresponding rack supports may be maintained level when said stove rests upon a surface inclined from its front portion to its rear portion and said maintaining means being effective when moved to its first position to maintain each of said plates in its adjusted position.

7. In a stove provided with an oven having interior oppositely disposed side walls, a plate arranged adjacent each side wall, each of said plates being provided with one or more rack supports, means connected to one'side wall and engageable with the plate adjacent thereto and second means connected to the other side wall and engageable with the plate adjacent thereto for maintaining each of said plates in such position relative to their adjacent walls that each rack support on one plate is in horizontal alignment with a corresponding rack support on the oppositely disposed plate to maintain a rack having its opposite edges resting upon oppositely disposed rack supports on said plates in a level position when said stove rests upon a level surface, at least one of said maintaining means being movable inwardly from the side wall to which it is connected to a second position to provide a guide for the adjustable plate adjacent thereto, and the plate adjacent the movable maintaining means, together with its rack supports, being gradually adjustable when its maintaining means is in its second position to position its rack supports horizontally opposite to the corresponding rack supports on the opposite plate when said stove rests on an inclined surface, and said movable maintaining means being movable outwardly to its original position to maintain the adjustable plate in its adjusted position.

8. In a stove provided with an even having interior oppositely disposed side walls, a plate arranged adjacent each side wall, each of said plates being provided with one or more rack supports, means engageable with each plate and connected to the side wall adjacent thereto for maintaining each of said plates in such position relative to its adjacent side wall that each rack support on one plate is in horizontal alignment with a correspondin rack support on the oppositely disposed plate to maintain a rack having its edges resting upon oppositely disposed rack will be maintained in level position when said stoverests upon a'surface inclined'from its front portion to its rear portion, and the maintaining means for each platebeing movable outwardly to its original position to maintain each'plate in :its adjustedxposition.

9. Ina stoveprovided with anoven having interior oppositely disposed side "walls, a'plate 'arranged adjacent each side wall, each of said plates being provided with one or more rack sup- Z'DOItS, and'at least one of saidplates bein ad- I .justable and provided with an elongated slot, means, extending through the slot of the adjustable plate 'and connected to the sidewall adja- .centzthereto for maintaining the adjustable plate in such ,position'relativelto its adjacentside wall 1 :that each rack support on the adjustable plate is in :horizontal alignment with 'a .rack support :on the oppositely disposed plate to "maintain a rackhaving its opposite edges resting upon cor= respondingxrack supports in a level position when saidst'ove rests upon; a level-surface, said maintaining means for :the adjustable *plate being movable inwardly to a second positi0n,-and the plate provided with. the elongated-slot; together with its-:racksupports, being gradually adjustable to position; its rack'supports horizontally opposite to the correspondingrack :supports on the ppm- =site plate .to' maintainfsaid rack. in a level position Whensaid stove 'restsupon an inclined'suriace whensaid maintaining means is in'its'second po ,sition,"and said maintaining means being effective-'asia guide during adjustmentof the adjustable plate :and being movable outwardly to :its voriginalposition to'maintain the adjustable plate inposition after-adjustment.

10..In a stove provided with an oven having interior oppositely disposed side walls, aiplate arranged adjacent to eachuof said walls, each of said plates being provided with oneor'more rack supports, "means'engageable with each plate and .connectedto the side wall adjacent thereto for maintaining each of saidjplates'in such position relative toyits adjacent wall that each rack'support on one plate-is in. horizontal alignment with arcorresponding track support on the oppositely disposed plate-to maintain a rack having its oppositetedges resting upon oppositely disposedrack -supports on 1' said 'plateslin'a .level position when said stove restson -a levels'surfa'ce, each ofisaid maintaining.meansbeing' movable inwardly tea 5 secondpositionrand' each of said p1atES.belI1g"8.d justable'angularly'when its maintaining means is in its second position so'tha'tracks' resting on oppositely disposed corresponding rack supports may be maintained level when said stove rests upon'a surface'inclined from its front portion to its:rear portion and at least one of said plates being adjustable substantially vertically :relative tolitsside wall when its maintaining means is in its second position to maintain saidrack in a,

substantially level position when said stove rests uponza surface that is inclined betweenlits opposite ends and each of said maintaining means being; movable outwardly to its original position tomaintainsaidjplatesin their adjusted position.

111. In iaistove provided with :an oven having interior oppositely disposed-side Walls, a'plate' arranged adjacent to each side wall, each-of said plates being provided with one or more racksupports, means engageable with each platefor supporting each of said plates insuch position relative to its adjacent side wall that each rack-support on one plate is in horizontal alignment-with a rack support on the opposite plate to maintain a rack having its opposite edgesresting upon corresponding racksuppcrts ina'level position when the stove rests upon a level surface and theisupporting means engageable with at least one of said plates being gradually movable to adjust the plate supported thereby, together with its rack supports, to a second position to'positionits rack supports horizontally opposite to the corresponding rack supports on the opposite plate when said stove rests on an inclinedsurface, and means for guiding the adjustable plate during J its adjustment.

12. In a stove provided with an oven having interior oppositely disposed side walls, "a plate "arranged adjacent to each side wall, each of said plates being providedwith one or more'rack supports, means engageable with each plate for supporting each of said plates in such positionrelative to its adjacent side walls that the rack support on one plate is in horizontal alignment-with a rack support on the opposite plate to maintain a rack having its opposite edges resting upon corresponding rack supports in a'levelpositionwhen said stove rests upon a level surface, at leastone of said supporting means beingan'eccentric arranged below the plate supported thereby and upon which eccentric the plate rests, said eccentrio being rotatable to gradually adjust the"position of the plate with which it is associated to a second position to position its rack supports 'opposite to the rack supports on the opposite plate when said stove rests on an inclinedsurface-and means for guiding the adjustable plate during adjustment.

13. In a stove provided with an oven having 'interior oppositely disposed side walls, a vertically movable plate arranged adjacent to each side wall, each of said plates being rovided with one or more rack supports which are movabletherewith, a pair of eccentrics, one of which is arranged beneath and supports one plate'and the other of which is arranged beneath and'supports the other plate, said eccentrics each being settable in a position to maintain each of said plates in such relation to its adjacent side Wall that the racl; support on one plate is in horizontal alignment with the rack support on the opposite plate to maintain a rack resting upon-corresponding rack supports in a level position when said'stove rests upon a level surface, and. each of'said eccentrics being rotatable to adjust the plateresting thereon to a second position so that "said rack supports may be maintained in horizontal alignment with each other when said stove rests on an inclined surface, and means for guiding each of said plates during adjustment. 1

14. In a stove provided with an oven havin'ginteriorlyoppositely disposed side wal7s, an angularly and vertically movable plate arranged adjacent each side wall, each of'said plates :being provided with one or more rack supports which 'aremcvable therewith, two pairs of eccentrics,

one pair of eccentrics being arranged inispace'd relation :below one :of said plates and-servingas az'support therefor andthe other pairiot eccentrics beingtarranged;in.spacedv relation below theother plate and serving as a support therefor, said eocentrics being settable in such position that the rack support on one plate is in horizontal alignment with the rack support on the opposite plate to maintain a rack resting upon corresponding rack supports in horizontal position when said stove rests upon a level surface, and each of said eccentrics being rotatable to adjust said plates to second positions in which the rack supports are in horizontal alignment when said stove rests upon an inclined surface, and means for guiding each of said plates during adjustment.

GEORGE M. BIRKIC.

REFERENCES CITED Number Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ruth et'al Nov. 10, 1903 Ayer et al. Nov. 8, 1910 Allen -1 Aug. 12, 1913 Mott et a1 Sept. 13, 1921 Hatch Feb. 7, 1933 Hammer July 4, 1933 Lange Apr. 24, 1934 Hokan'son Aug. 17, 1937 Mills Apr. .29, 1941 Hallock Mar. 30, 1943 Hall May 6, 1947 Bittney Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 10, 1921 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1934 

